Google is giving parents a new way to help their children manage money as the back-to-school season approaches.

The company announced Thursday that parents in the U.S. can now set up a secure digital balance in Google Wallet for children and teens under 18. The feature is designed to give kids more independence with everyday purchases while keeping parents in control of their spending activity.

Parents Can Keep an Eye on Spending

The new Google Wallet feature puts parents in charge of the money stored in their child’s digital balance.

Parents can transfer money from their own account and monitor transactions through Google’s Family Link system. They can also set spending limits and track purchases in real time.

Parents will also have the ability to lock or unlock the balance when necessary. That could be useful if a child’s phone is lost or if a parent wants to temporarily stop spending.

Google says scheduled recurring payments will also be available soon, giving families another option for managing regular allowances.

Kids Can Pay With Their Devices

Once a parent sets up the balance, children can use Google Pay to make purchases at stores with compatible Android phones or Wear OS devices that support NFC payments.

That means kids can make everyday purchases without necessarily carrying cash or having a traditional bank account.

For families already relying heavily on smartphones for payments, the feature provides a digital alternative to handing a child cash for every purchase.

A Digital Allowance With Parental Controls

Google is positioning the new Wallet feature as more than a payment tool.

The company says it can help parents teach children healthy money habits while giving them more independence. Instead of simply handing over spending money, parents can monitor how the money is being used and establish limits.

The approach also gives parents a way to introduce kids to digital payments before they become financially independent.

Google Wallet Targets a Growing Family Need

The launch comes as cashless payments become increasingly common in everyday life.

For younger consumers, learning how to handle money increasingly involves smartphones, digital wallets and electronic payments. Google’s new feature is designed to give parents a controlled way to introduce those habits.

TechCrunch reports that the feature puts Google Wallet closer to services such as Apple Cash Family, Greenlight and FamZoo, which already offer tools aimed at helping families manage children’s spending.

Back-to-School Timing Makes the Feature Timely

Google’s announcement arrives just ahead of the new school year, when families are preparing for another round of school expenses, activities and daily routines.

A digital balance could be useful for teenagers who need money for lunch, transportation, school activities or other small purchases while parents remain able to monitor the account.

The feature could also appeal to parents who want to replace a traditional weekly allowance with a digital option.

Google Is Keeping Parents in Control

One of the biggest selling points is the level of parental oversight.

Parents can determine how much money is available, establish spending limits, review transactions and lock the balance when needed. That gives families more control than simply giving a child unrestricted access to a payment method.

The setup also avoids requiring the child to open a traditional bank account, according to Google.

A New Option for Families Using Android

Google Wallet’s latest addition expands the company’s efforts to make its payment platform useful for more members of a household.

For parents who already use Android devices and Google’s family-management tools, the new children’s balance could provide a simple way to combine allowances, spending limits and transaction tracking in one place.

The feature is currently aimed at families in the U.S., making it a particularly relevant addition for American parents preparing their children for greater financial independence.

The Bottom Line

Google Wallet is giving parents a new digital option for teaching kids about money while maintaining control over their spending.

With spending limits, transaction tracking, money transfers and the ability to lock or unlock a child’s balance, the new feature brings several parental controls into a single digital wallet.

As more everyday purchases move away from cash, Google’s new approach could give parents a practical way to help their kids learn how to manage money in a digital-first world.